- There are many knockoffs of fast-food chains like McDonald’s and Burger King around the world.
- They often have funny names, like “McDoner” and “Burger Friends,” and their m enus are often similar to the stores they’re copying.
- Sometimes the stores open because the countries don’t allow franchises of the traditional chain. Other times, the reason why they exist is less clear.
In many countries across the globe, you’ll often see copycat fast-food restaurants named things like “Mash Donald’s” or “McDoner” with the same font, logo, and colors as McDonald’s. They aren’t the only imposters: knockoff versions of Burger King, Starbucks, 7-Eleven, KFC, and more exist all over the world.
The names might be funny, but some of them were born out of deeper political issues. Mash Donald’s, for example, opened because the Iranian government’s anti-American sentiments make it impossible for the chain to open McDonald’s franchises in the country, according to The New York Times. This is also the case for Pizza Hat (Pizza Hut), Burger House (Burger King), and other knockoff restaurants in Iran.
China has imitated everything from individual products to world-famous landmarks, and fast food is certainly no exception. You’ll find many knockoffs of McDonald’s, KFC, and Starbucks throughout major cities in China.
Here are some of the craziest fast-food knockoffs from around the world:
Iran: Mash Donalds
http://instagr.am/p/5pD1CxgZ8j
Mash Donald's in Iran sells its own version of classic McDonald's meals, like the "Mash Donald's baguette burger," its "big mac" made with meat, cheese, and turkey ham.
China: Michael Alone
http://instagr.am/p/BawsxBDjT5b
China has a lot of interesting knockoffs, like Michael Alone, whose logo clearly is just an upside-down McDonald's logo. The restaurant uses the classic red-and-yellow color scheme as well.
Kazakhstan: McDoner
http://instagr.am/p/reiF5JAPKJ
McDoner is another clear spin on the McDonald's brand.
Iran: Pizza Hat
http://instagr.am/p/uX2AHUgh9t
Iran has a restaurant called "Pizza Hat," which serves pizza, chicken wings, and lasagna in an environment resembling a Pizza Hut.
China: Bucksstars Coffee
http://instagr.am/p/j6W1VuupvC
Bucksstars didn't seem to try very hard with its name. Its logo is also almost identical to Starbucks'.
Palestine: Stars & Bucks
Stars & Bucks cafe, in the city of Ramallah, kept the name and color scheme of Starbucks.
Iraq: Burger Friends
According to Time magazine, Burger Friends opened back in 2012, when an Iraqi government employee told the Associated Press that Iraqi citizens were "fed up" with their traditional cuisine and wanted to have more American food.
China: KLG
http://instagr.am/p/e7ZyvmNCJB
There are a ton of KFC knockoffs in China, including this KLG.
China: KFD
http://instagr.am/p/BfGh0PQh_Bj
There's also a KFD, which has a knockoff Colonel Sanders as well.
China: OFC
http://instagr.am/p/BI4_-OCBG3B
OFC, or Obama Fried Chicken, was forced to change its name due to claims of copyright infringement. Now called UFO, the KFC knockoff still used Obama's face next to its logo.
Iran: ZFC
Ein Buchstabe ausgewechselt und fertig - fast food in Isfahan (Iran) pic.twitter.com/7oGOtXCUcR
— ulrike weiser (@ulrikeweiser) May 3, 2013
ZFC is another Iranian knockoff of KFC.
Yemen: Sunny Day
http://instagr.am/p/cp6GmaCfQh
Sunny Day uses the same colors and a very similar logo to Subway, and it appears to sell sandwiches as well.
Spain: Duffin Dagels
Duffin Dagels, a Spanish chain, has a nearly idential menu, logo, and color scheme to Dunkin' Donuts, but it's not the real thing.
China: 7 Twelve
— 中国住み (@livein_china) February 9, 2015
There are a ton of 7-Eleven knockoffs, like this "7 Twelve" store in China. Other versions include a "7 Mercy" in Japan and "7 Seven" in South Korea, all of which have nearly identical branding to 7-Eleven.